Temperature regulation



Aug. 31 192s. 1,597,774

P. DODGE TEMPERATURE REGULATION Filed July 8, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 31 1926.

\ 1,597,774 P.DODGE TEMPERATURE REGULATION Filed July 8. 1925 STE'A M LINE- 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a Patented Aug. 3 1, 1926.-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

rennin IDODGE, or SOMERSET,- mnenn, ASSIGNOB 'ro JQHHSOH snavrcncollrm, or MILWAUKEE, wrsconsm, A conroaa'rron or" wxscousm.

rnnrnne'runn aneutarron;

. ap licant fled m a, 19:25. sum llo. 42,252;

This invention relates to temperature regulation and particularly to thermostats of the selective night setting type.

A-large numben of buildings, notably a school buildings, are used to capacity throughout the day and only to part capacity at night. In order to economize heat during the night session those rooms which are not in use are not heated to the full day temperature, but are maintained at a' lower temperature. Prior to my invention it has been the practice in certain installations to add ,to the thermostat a'sec'ondary mechanism which respondedto the intensity of sup.- ply' ressure of the motive fluid to actuate t e relay valve of thethermostat. This vsecondary mechanism was subject to the control of a hold-out device which rendered it active or inactive. When active, a reduction of the motive fluid pressure operated to set the thermostat to maintainthe low temresults have also been devised, but each of them involves the manual setting of the secondary device or hold-out on the thermostat in each room. In cases where diflerent.

groups of rooms are used on successive nights, it is necessary that some one adjust the thermostats from day today.

The'object of the present invention is to overcome this necessity for adjustment by applying to this particular problem a modified form of aninvention which in its broader aspects is described and claimed in my co-pending-application Ser. No. 41,133, filed July 2, '1925. Accordingly, the claims in the present application, are restricted to the application of this special control mecha nism to a thermostat of the selective night setting type.

Briefly-stated, the invention contemplates f the applicationto the thermostats of a selective night setting-mstallation of an additional control actuated by, the condition of the light circuits of the, various rooms where the thermostats are. In -a system equipped with the present invention, the thermostat has an auxiliary control operated from some central point, sa the furnace room, which is capable of givmgall of the thermostats a perature. When held inactive, the thermo? stat operated. to maintain the normal dayv Consequently it is not necessary to select in advance the rooms which are to be heated to day temperature at night and manually adjust their thermostats. When therooms are lighted for use the thermostats in the lighted rooms will be set for the day setting, even .though the system as a wholebe biased toward the night setting. This renders the system completely automatic.

If, on a holiday or Sunday 'while the systemis biased toward the night temperature T during the day-time, it is desired to use,say, oneroom during the day without lighting the lights, a manual setting of the thermostat'in that particular room may be made in order to secure the day temperature, but. "aside from this no manual setting s necessar under any conditions. v p

I he invention is capable of embodiment in various types of heatlnglsystem and may be applied whether the 11g room are controlled by switches in the roomitself or by master switches at some other point. For pur oses of illustration 1 show. it embodied 1n t tion in which the room is heated by direct radiation in the roomand in which a thermostat of the pneumatic relay motor type operates to open and close radiator valves.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagram of the system showin in right side elevation the t ermostat an 7 the relay for asingle room;

- Fig.- 2 is a left side elevation of the thermostat mechanism proper;

lfilig. 3 is a front elevation. of the same; an r 4 Fig.- 4 is a diagram" showing the connections for three rooms,

The thermostat chosen for'illustrationis of the familiar ressure fluid operated type ting cir'cuitsin the which has alea port controlled by athermostatic valve, the leak port, as it is opened and closed by the thermostatic valve, causing the collapse or distention of the relay motor diaphragm which shifts a valve controlling the radiator valve to turn the heat I either the tank 7 or the tank 9 with the pressure supply line 11, which feeds the thermostats, so as to supply to this line pressure fluidat either fifteen pounds or ten pounds pressure, as may be desired. The valve is shown set to maintain the higherpressure 0n the line 11; The pressure on the line is shown by the gauge 12. The supply line vl1 has a branch 13 which leads to the-selective control dia hragm chamber 14 which operates throug a diaphragm 15 and saucer or bearer plate 16 to shift the selective control lever 17 against the resistance of the spring 18.

The spring 18 is adjusted by nut 19 on the stem 20 to such a stress that when the .higher pressure, say fifteen pounds, is on the, line 11, the sprin 18 is overpowered by the diaphragm 15, w ile when the lower pressure, say ten pounds, is on the line, the spring 18 overpowers the diaphragm 15. The selective control lever 17 is limlted in itsmovements by adjustable capstan screws 21 and 22 and it carries a boss 23 which engages the wei hted saddle 24 on which the thermostatic element, in this case a bi-metallic bar 25, is mounted. The saddle 24 is ivoted at 26 and the capstan screws 21 an 22 are so adjusted thatthe screw 21 determines the high temperature or day adjustment of the thermostatic bar 25, and the screw 22 determines the low temperature or night adjustment thereof.

The bar 25 is provided with a valve member 26 which coacts with the usualleak port 27. This leak port 27 is connected by a pipe 28 and a port 29 with a diaphragm chamber 30 forming part'of the relay motor. The chamber 30 acts through a bearer. plate 31 to shift-a lever 32 about its pivot 33. The diaphragm chamber 30 wheninflated. acts against the resistance of a coiled spring 34 which restores the parts when the diaphragm is deflated. The motion of, the lever 32 is limited by an adjustable stop screw 35.

The diaphragm chamber 30 is constantly supplied with compressed air from the main thermostatic bar 25 and its valve 26, the

diaphragm chamber 30 collapses. But when the leak port 27 is closed, the diaphragm chamber 30 is distended by the accumulation of pressure flowing past the needle valve 37.

The lever 32 actuatesthrough a quick throw mechanism a relay valve 38. This valve38 coacts with two ported seats, the first of which, 39, has a port connected to the supply line 11, and thesecond of which, 40, has a port surrounding the valve stem 41 and leading'to the atmosphere. The quick throw mechanism consists of a globular head 42 which is surrounded by an annular coiled spring 43, the spring being confined in aslot-like housing formed at the upper end of the lever-32. i

lVhen the diaphra m chamber 30 isdistended, the upper en of the lever 32 moves to the left and the coiled spring 43 moving past the largest part of the head 42 acts to shift the valve 38 to the right, closing the exhaust port in seat 40 and opening the supply port in seat 39 tothe space surrounding the valve 38. This space is connected by a pipe 44 with the usual diaphlmgm motor 45. The diaphragm motor 45 is connected to the supply valve 46 of the radiator or other heating element 47 and under the conditions just suggested, closes this valve. I

'When the diaphragm chamber 30 is collapsed, the spring 43 is carried tothe, right of the largest diameter of the head 42 and acts to' force this head to the left, seating the valve 38 against the seat 39 and shutting off the supply of pressure fluid to the motor 45. At the same time the valve 38 moves 'away from the seat 40 and opens the exknown type of selective night setting thermostat; To this I ,add another selective control dominated by the condition of the lights in the room in which the thermostat is located. An electromagnet 50, or the equivalent, is mounted on the base of the thermostat and coacts with an armature 51 carried by a lever 52 pivot-ally supported on the base at 53. The range of movementof the lever 52 is ad justed by stop screws 54 and 55. The lever 52 is urged against the stop screw 55 by a spring 56 which is overpowered by the e ec tromagnet 50 when this is excited. It is practicable to usequite a light spring and quite a weak magnet as the work to be done is very small.

- The lever 52 carries adjacent the ivot 53 a forward extending arm 57 and 1n this is threaded an adjusting screw 58. The adjusting screw 58 is in position to strike and lift the saddle 24 when the leyer 52 is drawn inward by the magnet 50. Any suitable connections are made to excite the magnet 50 when the lights in the part cular room in which the thermostats are located are lighted. The simplest way is to derive the' exciting current from the lighting circuit. This may be done very easily by the use of a re-' sistance in series with the magnet. Where alternating current is available a small transformer may be used.

In Figs. 1 and 4 the mains are shown at 60, a double pole switch'at 61, and the room light circuit wires at 62, 63. The lights 64 are shown connected in parallel with each other betweenjthe wires-62 and 63. A resistance 65 is connected in series with the winding of the magnet and the two are connected in parallel with the lights 64.

Referring now particularlyto Fig. 1, it should be noted that the day setting is there shown. The supply line 11 is under fifteen that the en ineerestablishes ten pounds pressure on t 10.

e line 11 by shifting the valve Under this condition the diaphragm 15 collapses, the spring 18 moves the-lever 17 to the right, the saddle 24'is slightly lowered,

and the valve 26 is'urged to a position closer to the leak port 27. The effect of this is to shut oif heat from the radiator 47 until a lower temperature is reached.

Suppose now that the lights in this particular room are lighted. The lever 17 is not affected, but the magnet '50 is exicted, the

armature 51 is drawn in and the screw.58

strikes the saddle 24 and lifts it. gPreferably the screw 58 is so adjusted that with the maximum range of movement admitted by the capstan screw 54 the saddle24 is moved to its day adjustment posItion.- Obviously however, the mechanism is such as to permit a different adjustmentof' the saddle 24 so that if for any reason it be-desired, the temperature maintained when the lights are lighted may be different from the normal day temperature established through the maintenanceof the fifteen pound pressure on the line 11.

In Fig. 4 the connections for three rooms are shown. It will beobserved that while the primary setting controlled by the pressure of the motive fluid affects all the thermostats, each thermostat is subject to a modifying control independently of the others, and this modifying control is effected by the condition of the lights in the various rooms in which the corresponding thermostats are.

The invention may be embodied in a number of difi'erent forms. For example, the selective day and night control may be secured by other means than by the variation of the supply pressure.- -'A number-of such mechanisms have been devised and it is apparent control of the li hts in a manner analo ous:

that they'may be subjected to the secondary .86

to that describ Various types of ad ustable thermostats other than the pneumatically actuated type are known and they, too,

are subject to similar control. Thus while (particular embodiment illustrated is bea the live to posses practical advantages and is preferred, the utility of the invention is not limited, but indeed has the broadest application to selective day and night controls generally.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a temperaturere ulating thermostat; pneumatic'means for sh1fting said thermostat between two settings; and electrical means for maintaining one of said two settings regardless of the action of said neumatic means.-

2. The combmation of a temperatureregulating thermostat; pneumatic meaffs for shifting said thermostat between'two .settings; electrical means for maintaining onev of said two settings regardless of the action of said neumatic meansa lighting circuit; a circuit 1 including said electrical means and controlling means common to said two circuits.

"'3. The combination of a temperatureregulating thermostat; primary adjusting means for shifting said thermostat between two settings; secondary power-actuated adjusting means *for maintaining one of said two settings regardless of theaction ofthe primary adjusting means; and a manually adjustable s'to at will in the aSt-named setting.'

4. The combination of a temperatureregulating thermostat; pneumatic means for shifting said thermostat bet-wen two settings; electrical means for maintaining one of said two settings regardless of the action of said pneumatic means; a lighting circuit; a circuit including said electrical means;

controlling means common to said two cir-- for locking said thermostat lockingsaid thermostat at will in the settin produced by the action of said electrica means.

5. The combination of a temperatureregulating system including a plurality of thermostats each controlling the supplypf heat to a corresponding room; group adjusting means common to said thermostats for setting them to maintain different temperatures during'the day and during the night; individual setting means for each thermostat capable of suspending the setting made by said group adjusting means; individual light circuits for the various rooms; and connections between the varous light ci-rcuitsand corresponding individual setting means, whereby the conditions of the varous light circuits determine the settings of corresponding thermostats when said group adjusting means is in the night setting.

4 6. The combination of a temperatureregulating system including a plurality of thermostats each controlling the supply of heat to a corresponding room; group adj usting means common to said thermostats for setting them to maintain difl'erent temperatures during the day and during the mght; individual setting means for each thermostat ca able of suspending the setting made by said group adjusting means; individual light circuits for the various rooms; connections between the various light circuits and corresponding individual setting means, where y the conditions of the various light circuits determine the settings of correspond-- ingthermostats when said group'adjusting means is in the night setting; and manually operable means for locking said thermostat at will in the day setting;

7. The combination of regulating system including a plurality of thermostats eaclicontrolling the supply of heat to a corresponding roomgroup adjusting means common to said thermostats for setting them tomaintain different tem eratures during the day and durin the night;

individual setting means for eac thermostat capable of suspending the settings made by said group adjusting means; individual light circuits for the various rooms; individual circuits each including a corresponding one ofsaid individual setting means; and a plurality of circuit controlling switches each common to a light circuit and a corresponding one of the individual setting circuits' i 8. The combination of a temperatureregulating system including a plurality of thermostats each controlling the supply of heat to a corresponding room; group adjustingmeans common to said thermostats for setting them to maintain diiferent tem eratures during the day and during the night; individual setting means for each thermostat capable of suspending the settings made by a temperaturesaid group adjusting means; individual light circults for the various rooms; individual circuits each including a corresponding one of said individual setting means; a plurality of circuit controlling switches each common to a light circuit and a corresponding one of the individual settin circuits; and individual manually operab e meansassociated with each thermostat for locking the same at will in one setting.

9. The combination of a temperature-regulating system including a plurality of pneumatic thermostats each controlling the supply of heat to a corresponding room; means controlled by the intensity of pressure of the motive fluid supply to sa1d thermostats serving to set said thermostats to maintain either of two characteristically different temperatures, one of which is a normal room temperature; individual setting means for each thermostat operable to set said thermostat for such normal room temperature;'individual light circuits for the rooms; and connections between the various light circuits and corresponding individual setting means arranged to actuate the setting means to maintain normal temperature. in a room upon the lightingof lights in said room.

a 10. The combination of a temperatureregulating system including a plurality of pneumatic thermostats each controlling the supply of heat to a corresponding room; means controlled by the intensity of pressure of the motive fluid supply to said thermo stats serving to set said thermostats to maintain either of two characteristically diiferent temperatures, one of which is a normal room temperature; individual setting means for each thermostat operable to set said thermostat for such normal room temperature; individual light circuits for the rooms; individual circuits each including a corresponding individual setting means; and a pluralit of controlling switches, each switch contro ling a light circuit and a corresponding one of said individual setting circuits.

11. The combination of a temperatureregulating system including a source of pressure motive fluid and a plurality of fluid pressure relay, thermostats each controlling the supply of heat to a corresponding room; means operated by the motive pressure fluid and arranged to shift the adjustment of said thermostats alternately between two settings, one of which is a normal room temperature; individual electrically actuated setting means for each thermostat serving when actuated to establish a normal room tempera-ture adjustment; individual li ht circuits for the rooms; and connections etween the various light circuits and corresponding individual adjusting means arranged to establish normal temperature in a room upon the lighting of lights therein.

12. The combination with a heating system including independently operable heat 'ing units delivering heat to the various rooms provided with corresponding thermostats having primary adjusting means by which they are adjustable as a group to maintain in said rooms a normal temperature during the day and a-lower temperature during the night, of individual lighting cir-.

cuits for the various rooms; individual secondary adjusting means for said thermostats; and connections between said secondary adjusting means and corresponding lighting circuits constructed and arranged to set individual thermostats to cause corresponding heating units to maintain the 1 normal day temperature in any room in which the lightsare lighted, regardless of the setting of the rimary' adjusting means.

In testimony wiiereof I have signed my name to this specification.

PARKER DODGE. 

